Chives, Cive, Onion Grass, Allium buhseanum, Allium raddeanum, Allium oliganthum, Allium alpinum, Allium schmitzii var. duriminium, Allium purpurascens, Allium montanum, Allium gredense
Cultivated for its culinary uses and ornamental garden appeal, Allium schoenoprasum (Chives) is a small bulbous perennial forming a dense clump of thin, narrowly cylindrical, grass-like, dark green leaves. In late spring to early summer, attractive, pale lavender, rounded umbels are borne on erect stems atop the foliage. Both flowers and leaves are edible.
The most commonly used part of chives in cooking is the long, slender green stems, which have a mild onion flavor. The white part of the stem, which is thicker and has a stronger onion flavor, is also edible but is typically used in smaller amounts or cooked longer to mellow out the flavor. The chive flowers are also edible and are great as a garnish or in salads, and they have a more intense onion flavor than the stems. The bulb of the chive plant is typically not used in cooking and is generally not consumed as it is small and not very flavorful.
Chives are a versatile herb that adds flavor and aroma to various dishes. Here are some common uses:
Green onions and chives are not the same but are related (they are onion family members) and look similar.
Green onions, also known as scallions, have a more pronounced onion flavor than chives and are p in various dishes, such as stir-fries, soups, and salads.
Chives have a milder onion flavor and are typically used as a garnish or to add subtle onion notes to dishes. Chives are also thinner and have a rounder stem than green onions, which have a more flattened stem.
Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 11 |
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Bulbs, Herbs |
Plant Family | Amaryllidaceae |
Genus | Allium |
Common names | Chives, Onion |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early), |
Height | 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
Spread | 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
Native Plants | United States, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Southeast, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Northeast, Midwest, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Idaho, Oregon, Virginia, Alabama, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Colorado |
Tolerance | Drought, Deer |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden |
Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 11 |
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Bulbs, Herbs |
Plant Family | Amaryllidaceae |
Genus | Allium |
Common names | Chives, Onion |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early), |
Height | 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
Spread | 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
Native Plants | United States, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Southeast, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Northeast, Midwest, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Idaho, Oregon, Virginia, Alabama, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Colorado |
Tolerance | Drought, Deer |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden |
How many Allium schoenoprasum (Chives) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Allium schoenoprasum (Chives) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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